Saddle



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheetl.

J. STRAUS. Saddle.

No. 233,816. Patented Oct. 26,1880.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Modem- J. STRAUS.

Saddle.

No. 233,816. Patented Oct. 26, 1880.

NJETERS. PNDTO LITYHOGRAPHER WASKlNGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

JACOB STRAUS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,816, dated October 26, 1880.

Application filed June 9, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB STRAUS, of St. Louis, in the county of St. LOuis, and in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved saddle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower side of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of said saddle, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the same.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

In the use of riding-saddles great difficulty has heretofore been experienced in securing such shape as would render a saddle easy and comfortable to the horse and rider, and it has been necessary that for each size of saddle there should be a variety of shapes, in order that differences in the form of the back of the horse and the size and build of its rider might be accommodated. In cases where the esired conformation of saddle could not be procured the result of using an ill-fitting saddle has been to make both horse and rider uncomfortable, and frequently to chafe and render sore the back of the former.

It consists, principally, in an improved riding-saddle the tree of which is composed wholly of leather struck up or formed and shaped, stiffened, and stuffed substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in combining, with asaddle-tree composed wholly of leather struck up or formed and shaped, stiffened, and stuffed substantially as set forth, flaps which are attached to and form part of the same, substantially as andforthe purpose hereinafter shown.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the seat, B the head, 0 the cantle, D the gullet, and E the shank, of my saddle, which parts have the usual form when completed, and are constructed wholly from leather.

The seat Ais molded or vamped upon a correspondingly-shaped block, after which the head B and gullet D have their inner contiguous edges stitched together, and the upper edge of said head is then stitched to the front end of said seat. The oantle O and shank E are in like manner stitched together and to the rear end of said seat, after which the flaps F and the pad-leather Gr are stitched to the side edges of said seat, the gullet D, and shank E, and said pad-leather secured by means of two rows of stitches, a, to the central portion of said seat, sufficient fullness being left between such rows of stitches and the lower side edges of said pad-leather to enable the necessary stuffing of hair, H, to be placed between said leather and seat.

At the time of sewing together the edges of the seat A, flaps I and pad-leather G the upper ends of a sweat-flap, I, and girth-strap K are inserted between said pad-leather and seat, and are secured in place by means of the line of stitches employed for connecting together the other parts named.

In orderthat the union between the seat A, gullet D, shank E, and the flaps F may be made more secure, I place a rivet, IJ, through said parts at suitable points, as seen in Fig. 1. Loops M, for breast-strap, crupper, 850., are secured to the gullet D, seat A, and shank E, at suitable points, by means of rivets m, passed through said parts, as shown.

For an open-tree saddle, the seat A and padleather G are removed between the rows of stitches a, as seen in Fig. 2.

The saddle thus described is constructed wholly from leather, and is flexible in all directions, so as to enable it to readily adapt itself to the shape of the horse, by which means perfect ease and comfort are secured to the animal and all liability of injury to its back is avoided. The flexibility described enables the saddle to be fitted upon different horses, whatever differences may eXist in the breadth and concavity of their backsa result which would not be obtainable were any other construction of tree employed.

In order that the pads may be made to fit over lumps or tender spots upon the back of the animal, the leather G is provided with perforations 9, through which anawl or other like instrument may be passed, and the stuffing H moved sidewise until the desired shape has been given to such portion of the pad.

If desired, the fork, cantle, and bars may be stiffened by the addition of thick leather or other suitable material, and the seat may be rendered elastic by the use of rubber.

5 The saddle thus constructed is light durable, and very strong, is adapted to any climate, is no more expensive than other forms of saddle, and as it adapts itself perfectly to the back of a horse it cannot be turned while 10 the girth is properly fastened.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s 1. An improved riding-saddle the tree of I 5 which is composed wholly of leather struck up 

